Fertilizer-distributer.



PATENTED DEC. 19, 1905.

S. ROBINSON. FERTILIZER DISTRIBUTER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY6.1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

I I It PATENTED DEC. 19, 1905.

s. ROBINSON. FERTILIZER DISTRIBUTBR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 6,1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Q v .[NVgA/Tok PATBNTED DEC. 19, 1905. S. ROBINSON.

FERTILIZER DISTRIBUTER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 0. 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3' %2/ 8/. By h Allorney STINSON ROBINSON, OF VINTON, IOWVA.

FERTILIZER-DISTRIBUTER.

No. 807K541.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 19, 1905.

Application filed July 6,1905. Serial No. 268,513-

To all whom it may concern.-

Be. it known that I, STINsoN ROBINSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Vinton, in the county of Benton, State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fertilizer Distributors, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to a fertilizer-distributor, and particularly to a machine of that type embodying an endless apron or belt with a spreading-drum at the delivery end thereof.

The invention has for an object to provide a novel andimproved construction of the body of the wagon or carrier for supporting this endless belt comprising angle-irons at the opposite sides thereof, which carry upon their outer faces the bearings for the axles and shafts of the operative parts and upon their inner faces support the side-boards of the wagon-body and provide a track or way over which the loaded surface of the belt travels.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved construction and arrangement of the driving mechanism for this beltv by which the speed of rotation thereof may be governed and controlled, while the rotation of the spreader is. simultaneously controlled.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter set forth and the novel features thereof defined by the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of the distributer, showing the controlling means for the belt or spreader; Fig. 2, an enlarged side elvation of these controlling means; Fig. 3, a similar view at the opposite side of the machine, showing the driving means for the spreader; Fig. 4, an end view showing this spreader; Fig. 5, a longitudinal section at the delivery end of the machine; Fig. 6, a detail cross-section showing the mechanism for controlling operating parts of the invention; Fig. 7, a detail elevation of the hub of the traction-wheel removed from the rear shaft shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 8 a detail perspective of the angle-iron construction.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

In a machine of this character it is very desirable to dispose the body asnear the ground as possible and also to provide a driving or traction wheel at the rear of the greatest possible diameter in order to render the draft of the machine light and easy. This is accomplished by means of the angle-irons A, preferably of L-shaped construction and disposed at opposite sides of the machine. These are connected together in any desired manner by cross-barsas, for instance, shown at A in Fig. 5and also support upon their outer faces the bearin s A for the front running gear and a similar bearing A as shown in Fig. 6, for the shaft A of the rear tractionwheels A. The horizontal portion of this angle-iron provides a track or way A, upon which the belt or endless apron travels at each side of the machine, while the side-boards A comprising the body of the vehicle, rest thereon. This belt B is of any desired construction, preferably a link chain carrying cross-slats thereon, and at the forward end of the body passes over a roll B, adjustably mounted, as shown at B in the bracket B carried by the angle-iron. The lower stretch of this apron is adapted to pass over suitable idler-rolls B and 13", supported from these angle-irons, as shown in Fig. 1, and at the opposite delivery end of the machine the belt extends over the driving-roll B therefor, which is provided with suitable sprocket-teeth to engage the chain thereon, similar teeth being provided upon the apron-roll B by means of loosely-mounted sprocket-wheels thereon. The driving-axle A has secured thereon a pinion C and at the hub thereof a ratchetwheel O, which wheel is adapted to engage with a pawl 0 disposed in the hub of the traction-wheel A, so as to rotate its shaft and the parts carried thereby in the forward movement of the machine, but to prevent rotation thereof in any backward movement of the wheel. Power is transmitted from the pinion O to the gear O which is adapted to mesh therewith, but is also loosely mounted upon its driving-shaft O carried in the bearing A. This shaft O has secured thereon a clutch member O, adapted to cooperate with a similar member C carried by the face of the gear O This gear is shifted'toward .and from the clutch member O by means of a rod O, having a crank-arm O thereon, said arm being disposed within a shipper-bar D, mounted at its upper end D for pivotal movement and provided atits lower end with a connection D extending into the grooved hub of the gear. A loop D is provided upon the outer face of this bar, within which the crank-arm C is disposed. The rod C is provided at its end next the front of the machine with an operating-lever C adapted to be held in its adjusted positions at either side of a vertical line by means of a spring G", extending therefrom to a fixed support C upon the body of the vehicle. It will be seen that the rotation of the rod C throws the crank-arm from the position shown in Fig. 6 to that shown in Fig. 1, thus carrying the gear into engagement with its cooperating clutch.

The clutch member C is provided with a crank-pin E extending outwardly therefrom, from which a pitman E extends upward to a toggle connection E This toggle connection comprises a slotted lever E having its fulcrum at E and pivotally connected at E with the pitman. The opposite member E of the to le is pivotally connected at E with a rod E extending to the front of the machine and constitutes, practically, a fixed point in the operation of the toggle. For the purpose of varying the extent of movement of the lever E and the consequent travel of the opposite pawls F, pivotally mounted at F thereon, this rod may be shifted longitudinally by means of the lever E", connected therewith in the usual manner and adapted to be held in its adjusted posi-q tion by means of the latch and sector E, as shown. The pawls F are connected together by a spring F extending between the same, and in the oscillation of the lever the pawls operate alternately to feed the belt or apron toward the discharge end of the body by engaging the opposite sides of the ratchetwheel F, secured to the driving-roll for the belt. These pawls are each provided with guard-plates F to prevent lateral movement thereof relative to theratchet-wheel, as shown in Fig. 2.

For the purpose of driving the spreading drum or cylinder G the counter-shaft C is provided upon the opposite side of the machine from the belt-driving mechanism with a sprocket-gear H, secured to said shaft and conveying power to a similar gear H of less diameter, secured to the shaft G of the spreader-drum, said shaft being mounted in any suitable form of bracketfor instance, as shown at H in Fig. 3. Power is conveyed between these sprockets by means of the chain connection H and the chain kept under proper tension and direction by means of a wiper H carried by the bracket and bearing upon the top of the chain. The drivingwheel upon this side of the machine is provided with pawls to engage the ratchet-wheel C, secured to the axle of the shaft A as hereinbefore described.

The spreader-drum G may be constructed in any desired manner, but is preferably composed of opposite heads G between which the cross-bars G extend, each being provided with any desired number of teeth G which in the rotation of the drum lift the material upward above the same to perform the desired spreading or distributing action. Forthe purpose of preventing the upward throw of said material a guard-plate G is disposed above the upper portion of the drum and preferably mounted at G upon a standard G extending upwardly from the sides of the body and normally held under tension in its lowered position by means of a spring G extending therefrom to a fixed point G at each side of the machine. The downward movement of this guard is limited by means of the stop-plate H extending upward from the body and disposed beneath the board.

In the operation of the invention it will be seen that the construction of vehicle having the angle-iron-supporting frame enables the construction of the body near the ground, thus facilitating the loading thereof, and also permits the use of a large traction-wheel, by which a much lighter draft can be secured, while these metallic angle-bars provide a firm support for the various operating-shafts of the distributing mechanism and also a track or way upon which the endless belt is adapted to travel. The entire mechanism is adapted to be thrown out of operative relation by means of the crankshaft operated from the seat at the front of the machine, and when clutched in driving position the speed of rotation of the belt maybe governed and controlled by the toggle connection, whereby the throw of the pawls upon the ratchet-wheel may be so governed as to prevent operation thereof and at the opposite extreme of movement to effect themost rapid desired movement of the belt. This adjustment is independent in its action from the driving of the spreader-drum, which is constant in speed, and all of the parts may be controlled by the driver from the seat of the wagon, so that the distributing of material may be governed to any desired extent for different conditions of use or entirely stopped without the necessity of leaving the seat of the wagon.

It will also be obvious that the construction and arrangement of parts are of a simple character adapted to secure the most eflicient results and to reduce to a minimum the danger of injury and consequent repairs in the use of the invention, while they also materially economize in the construction of the distributer and render the same capable of operation by any unskilled employee.

Having described my invention and set forth its merits, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a fertilizing-distributer, a body portion, an endless belt mounted therein, a driving-shaft provided with a ratchet-wheel at one end of said belt, an operating lever, pawls pivoted at one end thereof and extending from said operating-lever to opposite sides of said wheel, and means for shifting said lever longitudinally to adjust the throw of said pawls by moving the pivot of the lever relative to said ratchet.

2. In a fertilizer-distributer, a body portion, an endless belt mounted therein, a driving-shaft provided with a ratchet-wheel at one end of said belt, an operating-lever, pawls pivoted at one end thereof and extending from said operating-lever to said wheel, means for shifting said lever and pivoted pawls relative to the ratchet to adjust the throw of said pawls, a counter-shaft, means for driving the same, a crank-pin carried by said counter-shaft, and a pitman extending from said crank-pin to said lever.

3.- In a fertilizerdistributer, a body portion, an endless belt mounted therein, a driving-shaft provided with a ratchet-wheel at one end of said belt, an operatinglever, pawls extending from said operating-lever to said wheel, means for shifting said lever transversely of its pivot to adjust the throw of said pawls, a counter-shaft, means for driving the same, a hub carried by said counter-shaft and provided with a crank-pin, a pitman extending from said crank-pin to said lever, a driving-gear slidingly mounted upon said counter-shaft to clutch with the hub of said crank-pin, and a gear carried by the shaft of the traction-wheels of said body.

4. In a fertilizer-distributer, a body portion, an endless belt mounted therein, a driving-shaft provided with a ratchet-wheel at one end of said belt, an operating -lever, pawls extending from said operating-lever to said wheel, means for shifting said lever transversely of its pivot to adjust the throw of said pawls, a counter-shaft, means for driving the same, a hub carried by said counter-shaft and provided with a crank-pin, a pitman extending from said crank-pin to said lever, a driving-gear slidingly mounted upon said counter-shaft to clutch with the hub of said crankpin, a gear carried by the shaft of the traction-wheels of said body, a shaft extending longitudinally of the body and provided with an operating-handle at its forward portion, a shipper-rod carrying at its lower end the gear upon the counter-shaft, and a crankarm upon said shaft adapted to actuate said shipperrod.

5. In a fertilizer-distributer, a body portion, an endless belt mounted therein, a driving-shaft provided with a ratchet-wheel at one end of said belt, an operating-lever, pawls extending from said operating-lever to said wheel, a link for shifting said lever transversely of its pivot to adjust the throw of said pawls, a counter-shaft, means for driving the same, a hub carried by said countershaft and provided with a crank-pin, a pitman extending from said crank-pin to said lever, a driving-gear slidingly mounted upon said counter-shaft to clutch with the hub of said crank-pin, a gear carried by the shaft of the traction-wheels of said body, a shaft extending longitudinally of the body and provided with an operating-handle at its forward portion, a shipper-rod carrying at its lower end the gear upon the counter-shaft, a crank-arm upon said shaft ada ted to actuate said shipper-rod, and a ro extending to the forward portion of the machine for the purpose of adjusting the relative position of said link.

6. In a fertilizerdistributer, a body portion, an endless belt mounted therein, a driving-shaft provided with a ratchet-wheel at one end of said belt, an operating-lever, pawls extending from said operating-lever to said wheel, a counter-sh aft, means for driving the same, a hub carried by said counter-shaft and provided with a crank-pin, a pitman extending from said crank-pin to said lever, a driving-gear slidingly mounted upon said counter-shaft to clutch with the hub of said crank-pin, a gear carried by the shaft of the traction-wheels of said body, a shaft extending longitudinally of the body and provided with an operating-handle at its forward portion, a shipper-rod'carrying at its lower end the gear upon the counter-shaft, a crank-arm upon said shaft adapted to actuate said shipper-rod, a link pivotally connected tothe operating-lever of the pawls and disposed at an angle thereto, a rod extending to the forward portion of the machine for the purpose of adusting the-relative position of said link, a spreader-drum, a sprocket-wheel upon said counter-shaft at the opposite side of the machine from the'gear thereon, and a chain extending from said sprocket wheel to the spreader-drum.

7. In a fertilizer-distributer, a body portion, an endless belt mounted therein, a drivingshaft provided with a ratchet-wheel at one end of said belt, an operating -lever, pawls extending from said operating-lever to said wheel, a counter-shaft extending transversely of the body, means for driving the same, a hub carried by said counter-shaft and provided with a crankpin, a pitman extending from said crank-pin to said lever, a driving-gear slidingly mounted upon said counter-shaft to clutch with the hub of said crank-pin, a gear carried by the shaft of the traction-wheels of said body, a shaft extending longitudinally of the body and provided with an operating-handle at its forward portion, a shipper-rod carrying at its lower end the gear upon the counter-shaft, a crankarm upon said shaft adapted to actuate said shipper-rod, a link pivotally connected to the operating-lever of the pawls and disposed at an angle thereto, a rod extending to the forward portion of the machine for the purpose of adjusting the relative position of said link, a spreader-drum, a sprocket-wheel upon said counter-shaft at the opposite side of the ma- IIO ' at opposite sides of said ratchet-wheel, means for oscillating the opposite end of said lever and means for shifting the lever laterally of its pivot.

9. In a fertilizer-distributer, a body portion provided with an endless belt, a drivingroll for said belt having a ratchet-wheel thereon, an operating-lever provided with an elongated pivoting-aperture, pawls pivotally connected to one end of said lever and disposed at opposite sides of said ratchet-wheel, means for oscillating the opposite end of said lever, and a connection to the end of said lever opposite said pawls for shifting the lever laterally of its pivot.

10. In a fertilizer-distributer, a body portion, a delivery mechanism mounted thereon, traction-wheels having their axle mounted upon said body portion, a driving-gear carried by said axle, a counter-shaft provided with a gear loosely mounted thereon and having a clutch connection upon one face thereof, a cooperating clutch member secured to said counter-shaft and provided with a crank-pin, a pitman extending from said crank-pin, a lever actuated by said pitman and provided with pawls for operating the delivery mechanism and a cooperating ratchet carried by said mechanism.

11. In a fertilizer-distributer, .a body portion, a delivery mechanism mounted thereon, traction-wheels having their axle mounted upon said body portion, a driving-gear carried by said axle, a counter-shaft provided with a gear loosely mounted thereon and having a clutch connection upon one face thereof, a cooperating clutch member secured to said counter-shaft and provided with a crank-pin, a pitman extending from said crank-pin, means actuated by said pitman for operating the delivery mechanism, a shipper-rod connected at its free end to said gear upon the counter-shaft, and an operating shaft for said shipper-rod provided with a crank portion connected thereto.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

STINSON ROBINSON. Witnesses:

O. A. LEHMAN, W. L. THOMAS. 

